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Abt team to remain in DTM under GT3 rules

Abt Sportsline has become the first existing DTM team to announce that it will stay in the series following its move to GT3 regulations in 2021.

Rachit Thukral

Edited: Dec 17, 2020, 5:01 PM

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Nico Müller, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Robin Frijns, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline with the team

Abt has been a part of the DTM since its rebirth in 2000 and gained factory Audi status in '04, marking the start of a collaboration that would also extend to the Formula E series a decade later.

Several existing DTM teams including Abt had shown interest in the next era of the series, but none of them had committed to the new ruleset yet. That changed on Thursday when Abt announced that it will contest the 2021 season as a privateer, fielding a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3s.

No mention of the driver line-up was made by Abt, which won the 2020 teams' title with Nico Muller and Robin Frijns behind the wheels of its two factory RS5 DTMs.

Both Muller and Frijns have already signed deals to remain in Formula E with Dragon/Penske and Envision Virgin respectively, but could again dovetail their commitments in the DTM subject to any clashes between the two series.

"The DTM has been part of ABT Sportsline for 20 years and we want this to continue to be the case," said Managing Partner Hans-Jurgen Abt.

"At the weekends, not only our fans but all 200 of our employees in Kempten shared our excitement, celebrations and suffering. This is where we've scored our greatest victories and have grown as a team. With our commitment, we want to send a message and join Gerhard Berger in writing the next chapter of this fascinating racing series."

DTM boss Gerhard Berger added: "ABT's name is simply part of DTM because the team has been helping to shape the series for two decades. We are pleased that they continue to be committed to the DTM."

Mercedes customer GruppeM and British GT squad 2 Seas Motorsport are the only other teams to confirm an entry so far, both making their debut in the DTM.

The latter will field a pair of McLaren 720S GT3s, marking the first representation of the British sportscar brand in the DTM.

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